What Happened

Citicore Renewable Energy Corporation broke ground on a 41MWp solar PV plant with 53MWh battery storage in Pampanga, Philippines. The $66M project, financed by Land Bank of the Philippines, connects directly to PELCO I's distribution network and is scheduled for completion in late 2027.

Who Is Affected

Pampanga 1 Electric Cooperative (PELCO I) partners with CREC on this project to meet renewable portfolio standards. San Jose City Electric Cooperative is also involved in a sister project in Nueva Ecija. End users in PELCO I's franchise area will see reduced electricity costs.

Market Impact

• Demonstrates viability of distribution-connected solar-plus-storage in Philippines
• Aligns with new DOE mandate requiring 20% storage for renewable projects ≥10MW
• Shows policy shift as Green Energy Auction 4 now includes IRESS projects
• Reduces reliance on wholesale electricity spot market for provincial utilities

What to Watch

Monitor CREC's progress toward its 3GW renewable energy target by end of 2026. Watch for more distribution utilities adopting this model following PELCO I's lead. Note how co-located storage performs compared to standalone systems like Meralco's Cebu project.

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